Different types of animals like to eat snakes, including birds, mammals, tigers, etc. But the point is here: some snakes eat other snakes, as Cobra specializes in eating other snakes. Snakes are very harmful creatures, and it is not easy to eat snakes for other animals, but sometimes snakes are prey for other snakes.
A snake that eats other snakes is called a ‘phytophagic’ snake. Many snake species frequently eat snakes. These include kingsnakes, cobras, racer snakes, and eastern indigo snakes.
Here is the list of snakes that eat other snakes:
- King Cobra
- Mussurana Snake
- King Snake
- King Brown Snake
- Coachwhip
- Eastern Indigo Snake
- Indigo Snake
King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)
In the world, king Cobras are the most intelligent snakes. They prey on other snakes and eat them. They are the longest snake species and are 11 to 12 feet long. The giant King Cobra ever found is 18 feet long, and they mostly live in China, India, and Southeast Asia.
These snakes are also fond of eating giant lizards. They want streams, forests, bamboo thickets, and swamps. While these carnivorous and skillful hunters usually eat other snakes, birds, insects, and lizards, they’ll also take benefit of other prey, like rodents, when choices are determined.
Scientific Name: Ophiophagus hannah
Where they Found: China, Parts of India, Southern and Southeast Asia
Mussurana Snake (Clelia clelia)
Mussurana Snake is also one of those snakes that eat other snakes. They start their life as colorful and mature to be in different colors like brown, grey, and black. Mussurana Snake is a specie of snake from central America to Argentina. They are nearly 7 to 8 feet long and can easily swallow other animals. They prey nearly only on snakes, including other hollow snakes like the rattlesnake.
Mussuranas use a rear-fang technique when hunting other snakes or animals. They have teeth at the show of their upper jaws. These are called “opisthoglyphous teeth,” They allow them to carry snake prey by the head to stop it before eating snakes. As a mussurana swallows snake prey, it smashes the snake to fit into its narrow digestive system.
Scientific Name: Clelia clelia
Where they Found: From Central America to Argentina
King Snake (Lampropeltis sp)
King Snakes get their name after the famous King Cobra. As we mentioned before, they also tend to eat only other snakes. These species of snakes are very fond of hunting other snakes and then eating them. And snakes are their favorite diet to eat.
Mostly these snakes are found in North America and South America. However, these snakes are not long and fond of hunting and eating them.
King Snakes are thought to have created impunity to the poison of other snakes, which permits them to eat Rattle Snakes. They are in different colors but mainly black colors.
Scientific Name: Lampropeltis sp)
Where they Found: North America and South America
King Brown Snake (Pseudechis australis)
These King Brown Snakes are also known as “Mugla Snakes,” and these are widely found in Australia. King Brown Snakes are one of the longest snakes and reach up to 11 to 12 feet in length. They generally chew considerably once they see their prey, preventing it from fighting back.
Furthermore, these snakes eat birds, small mammals, and many other snakes. They will even eat other king-brown snakes in the right situation.
Scientific Name: Pseudechis australis
Where they Found: From Central America to Argentina
Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum)
Coachwhip is a non-poisonous snake commonly found in drylands and more arid environments. They like to live on dry land and live there happily. They are known to be very fast and chase down their prey until they catch them. They are fond of eating arid lizards, amphibians, insects, and other small snakes. These snakes are too different from others as they live in dry places. They are usually found in the Southern United States to Northern Mexico.
Scientific name: Masticophis flagellum
Where they found: Southern United States to Northern Mexico
Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais couperi)
Eastern Indigo Snake is a lengthy black non-poisonous snake generally discovered in the Southeastern United States. It is also one of the most prolonged snakes; males regularly reach 7 to 10 feet, while females tend to be shorter. These snakes are also called “Lord of the Forest.”
Once they notice prey, they’ll tack them against a hard surface and smother them with a firm edge. These snakes are adept at catching up to nasty snakes and eating them. They like to eat copperheads, amphibians, and rattlesnakes. These snakes are also snakes who like to eat other small snakes. Furthermore, they eat turtles, mammals, frogs, birds, and lizards.
Scientific name: Drymarchon corais couperi
Where they found: Southeastern United States
Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi)
Indigo snakes are long and reach 8.5 to 9.5 feet in length. These snakes are also non-venomous and commonly found in the Southeastern United States and Australia. They like to live in sandhills and near wetlands. As we mentioned, they want to live near swamps, usually found in water, river, lake, etc. Indigo Snakes are not highly fussy and will eat birds, mammals, amphibians, tiny turtles, and snakes.
Indigo Snakes have been known to eat nasty snakes and are thought to be unsusceptible to the poison of Rattlesnakes, allowing them to prey upon Rattlesnakes with little worry.
Scientific name: Drymarchon couperi
Where they found: Southeastern United States
Blue Malaysian Coral Snake (Calliophis virgates)
There are 80+ species of Coral Snakes worldwide. Most eat different diet types, but some often eat other snakes. This specie of snake feeds almost exclusively on other small snakes. These snakes are primarily found in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Burma.
These extend more than a quarter of their body length. Blue Malaysian coral snakes evolved a fast-acting venom that allows them to quickly take down bigger and stronger snakes and avoid being bitten back.
Scientific name: Calliophis virgates
Where they found: Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Burma
FAQs
What snakes that eat other snakes?
Cape cobras are generalist predators with no qualms about consuming other serpents containing already-dead ones. Indeed, many snake species will hunt other snakes opportunistically, and some — like the infamous King Cobra — have made serpents the majority of their diet.
Which snakes are cannibals?
Similarly, cannibalism in snakes has been documented, especially in king cobras and Lataste vipers. In these snakes, it’s usually the male being consumed by a male competitor or a female conspecific.
Has a snake ever eaten another snake?
Kingsnakes eat venomous species like rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads. The common kingsnake is one of many kingsnake species which enjoy similar diets. Like the king cobra, the “king” portion of its name refers to its propensity to eat other snakes.
Which snake is the king of snakes?
Their most unique type of target, however, is other snakes! California Kingsnakes are “kings” because they track and eat different snake species, containing other kingsnakes and even rattlesnakes – resistant to rattlesnake poison!
What snake eats copperheads?
The Eastern kingsnake provides on other snakes, lizards, turtle eggs, and birds and their eggs. It swallows nasty snakes such as copperheads and rattlesnakes. It is even known to be cannibalistic.
Can two snakes eat each other?
Indeed, many snake species will hunt other snakes opportunistically, and some — like the infamous king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) — have made serpents the majority of their diet.
Conclusion
Some snakes even practice cannibalism and will eat others of the same species! Ophiophagy isn’t limited to snakes; other animals and even humans eat snakes from time to time. If you like this article, please leave your review in the comment box, and if you have any queries, contact us.